Sheffield Wednesday: British coaches urged to follow Neville lead

Dom Howson

Owls boss Carlos Carvalhal has welcomed Gary Neville’s appointment as Valencia head coach and is calling on more British coaches to follow his lead.

Former Manchester United legend Neville was the unlikely choice to take charge of the La Liga giants last week. It is Neville’s maiden managerial role and he takes charge of his first match tonight, with Valencia needing a victory over Lyon to stand any chance of progressing to the next stage of the Champions League.

Carlos Carvalhal

Carvalhal, who has previously worked in Portugal, Turkey and Greece, claims it can only benefit British coaches to go and experience football abroad.

“It’s positive when we (coaches) go to other environments,” he said.

“All the time we think we are living in the best environment whether it is football or other areas. Sometimes when we go outside we can have different experiences. We are better after these kind of experiences. I think it is crucial to the future of English football and the coaches.

“Some coaches have come to my country, Bobby Robson was there, John Toshack was there also. Some British coaches have done it and done very well. I’m sure that they learned from us and we learned from Portuguese football to be better.”

The Wednesday head coach holds Paul Clement, his opposite number at Derby County, in the highest regard for opting to further his football education on the continent. Clement has previously worked as an assistant coach at Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.

Carvalhal said: “We are in a global world. It’s important that I came here and that the British coaches go abroad also.

“It is good for everyone to share experience. The world is changing very much. I lived in Dubai for the last two years and a lot of British work there. I have a lot of British friends there. It is a positive experience for coaches to go abroad and teach something.

“All the time we are learning, not just teaching. I think it is good. I am sure Paul Clement is a better coach now than he was four or five years ago.”